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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has publicly stated his intention to vaccinate.
For now, it is analyzed that vaccines from China or Russia are most likely to be introduced.
Correspondent Jang Min-seong.
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Kim Jong-un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, first announced the need for a COVID-19 vaccine at the Supreme People's Assembly on the 8th.
[Kim Jong-un / General Secretary of the North Korean Workers' Party (last 8th): It is expected that the antibody effect that was formed will fall around October.
Therefore, along with responsibly carrying out vaccination (vaccination)…
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I tried to prevent the corona by closing the border tightly by emphasizing the use of vaccines, but as a large-scale fever outbreak occurred and winter approached, the limitations were finally acknowledged.
In addition, we need to prepare for a time when we need to resume material and people-to-people exchanges with China in earnest.
[Jung Sung-sang/Director of North Korea Research Center at Sejong Institute: (China) goes to With Corona after the 20th Party Congress is over. .]
If North Korea introduces a vaccine, for now, it is most likely a vaccine from China or Russia.
However, some analysts say that North Korea does not trust the efficacy of Chinese and Russian vaccines.
As the international community, including the United States, has already announced several times of humanitarian vaccine support to North Korea, North Korea can consider it as an alternative, but the problem is that it does not have a cold chain system for low-temperature storage.
[Park Won-gon/Professor of North Korean Studies at Ewha Womans University: Because it was a humanitarian intention to provide, it was not directly connected with North Korea's denuclearization.
Cold chain (low temperature storage) is supposed to be included, so we will provide all of that in one package...
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When full-scale vaccination begins in North Korea, it is expected that the residents of the border area with China will be the first.